The PGA Tour announced on Monday that 21-year-old Aldrich Potgieter has been named the Arnold Palmer Award winner as the 2025 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year while world number one Scottie Scheffler has claimed the Jack Nicklaus Award as the PGA Tour Player of the Year.
South Africa’s Potgieter, the 2025 Rocket Classic champion, was one of five rookies to win on the PGA Tour this season and the only rookie to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs. The Mossel Bay, South Africa, native is the third South African winner of the Arnold Palmer Award, joining Ernie Els (1994) and Trevor Immelman (2006).
“On behalf of the PGA Tour congratulations to Scottie Scheffler on being named PGA Tour Player of the Year and Aldrich Potgieter on earning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honours for 2025,” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. “Scottie’s consistent level of success has been nothing short of spectacular as he continues to chase history on the PGA Tour, and we’re excited to see what he will deliver in 2026.
“What Aldrich has achieved at such a young age is truly remarkable. He has captivated fans across the globe, including his home country of South Africa, and the Tour is thrilled to see what his future holds.”
The Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards are determined by a member vote, with PGA Tour members who played in at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2025 season eligible to vote.
Scheffler earned the Jack Nicklaus Award over three other nominees: Tommy Fleetwood, Ben Griffin and Rory McIlroy. Potgieter received the Arnold Palmer Award over four other nominees: Michael Brennan, Steven Fisk, William Mouw and Karl Vilips.
At the age of 20 years, nine months and 16 days, Potgieter became the ninth-youngest PGA Tour winner since the start of the 1983 season and the youngest winner from South Africa with his win at the Rocket Classic. Potgieter survived a three-man playoff against Chris Kirk and Max Greyserman, birdieing the fifth extra hole at Detroit Golf Club to claim his maiden Tour title and move to a career-high 49th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
In addition to his win in Detroit, Potgieter recorded top 10s at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open (second) and the Charles Schwab Challenge (T6) and led the PGA Tour in Driving Distance (325) for the season. Potgieter went viral for a 374-yard drive he hit in Mexico and a driver off the deck the same week.
Of the 36 rookies on the PGA Tour for the 2025 season, Potgieter was the only rookie to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs and went on to finish No. 56 in the FedExCup Fall standings, earning spots in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational in 2026 via the Aon Next 10.
Potgieter earned 2025 PGA Tour membership through the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Points List and became the second-youngest graduate in Korn Ferry Tour history, earning his TOUR card at 20 years and 23 days old.
